EDIT: Sorry guys! I was doing some editing and made a mistake, accidentally replacing this chapter with the next chapter. I've fixed it now.
All Hands on Deck
Mari feared that the chase would go on for longer than her Floatzel could hold out but the boat suddenly shuddered and stalled. She grinned at her luck and Rush came up alongside the boat. He gave her a boost and from there she was able to clamber over the rail. The deck was empty but she could hear the sounds of a scuffle coming from the cabin. Mari returned Rush and crouched low to creep towards the cabin. She stayed close to the wall and sidled around it until she came to the door. They'd left it wide open and she could hear everything that was going on inside:
"Ew! Get off me, you filthy feather-brain!"
Peeko squawked. Purrloin hissed.
"Trying to drive… what're you doing with the rope?"
"Tying this stupid bird down!"
"Cool… Pelipper are p awesome."
Mari took a breath for courage and somersaulted into the cabin. She lashed out with a leg and kicked the first thing she was able to come in contact with, which happened to be Jemima's knee. She squeaked and collapsed. Meanwhile, Peeko wiggled her way out of the ropes looped over her wings and legs in a flurry of feathers. Purrloin ducked to avoid getting slammed by Peeko.
"WTF?" Jamie groaned, turning around in alarm.
Jemima leapt to her feet and snarled at Mari. "You again!"
"You're the thieves who took Woofy!" Mari yelled at them, pointing an accusing finger. "Return Woofy and return this boat right now! Don't make me make you!"
Jemima blew a raspberry at her. "As if we're afraid of you! Especially after last time! Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double," Jamie chimed in.
"To protect-ack!" Jemima was cut off as Peeko charged into her back ruthlessly.
"I'll show you double trouble," Mari threatened, taking out an old Pokéball and brandishing it at them with a dark look on her face. "Give Woofy back."
"Look! The yacht's slowing down!" Layla exclaimed, pointing to the drifting boat ahead of them.
"That's good, we'll be able to board it," Nicky sighed with relief.
As their Pokémon navigated tumbling waves to get closer they saw a sudden burst of fire erupt from the cabin. Two people and a small Pokémon were thrown onto the deck. The cousins gaped in shock, hearts sinking to their stomachs as they feared the worst but the flames subsided. On the boat, a Charizard squeezed her way out of the cabin door and stretched her wings out, roaring ferociously. She took to the skies with a powerful beat of her wings, allowing her red-haired trainer to step out of her shadow. She stepped towards the trio sprawled among the ropes and tackle boxes in an extremely undignified manner. Each step seemed to radiate its own wave of rage.
"One more chance…" Mari hissed. "Return Woofy."
Jemima righted herself and sniggered. "We don't have it!"
"You what?!"
"Don't have it," Jamie reiterated, not bothering to get up even though he was upside down and his neck was in a really awkward position.
"Yep! Handed it off to our superiors! What's the matter?" Jemima mocked. "You look like you're taking this way too seriously! Don't tell me you were attached to a little Growlithe!"
Mari clenched a fist. "You… you treat my Pokémon as if it's just a… a thing that you can pawn off to someone else! Charmy! Use Fire Spin!"
Charmy roared and turned to swing her tail at them, trapping them in a vortex of fire.
"If you won't give Woofy back then tell me where he is!"
"Like we know!" Jemima said, shrugging indifferently.
"Mari!" Layla called out. Her Tentacruel slithered onto the deck, dragging Nicky and his Sealeo up as well. "Cool it! Don't want to wreck the boat, do you?"
Mari took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It's alright. They're trapped anyway. Just have to steer the boat back. I'll keep an eye on these guys."
"Thanks," Nicky grinned, returning his Pokémon and heading straight to the cabin.
"On it." Layla followed her cousin's lead.
Now that they were alone, Mari put her hands on her hips and glared at the thieves before her. "Alright, Mr and Mrs Thief, tell me what you did with Woofy."
"Excuse me!" Jemima exclaimed, looking scandalised. "We are not a couple!"
"What did you want with this boat?" Mari continued to interrogate.
Jemima pretended to examine her fingernails while Jamie finally rolled onto his back. "Look, we just do what the bosses tell us," Jemima replied, "and they told us to 'acquire a boat that can get us to Marine Cave', that's pretty much it!"
"Marine… Cave?" Mari echoed in disbelief. "Seriously?! Quit playing around! As if I'd believe that you had legit orders to steal a boat and take it to a made-up place! What the hell is Team Aqua up to?"
The boat suddenly jerked and tilted to one side as a huge wave crashed against the side. Water splashed up the side and flooded the deck, washing away the Fire Spin. Mari slipped on the boards and fell, digging into the boards with her nails to stay on deck until the wave passed and the boat righted itself. Jemima jumped to her feet with a triumphant laugh, drawing her Pokéball.
"Not so tough now! Zangoose! Use your Crush Claw!"
Zangoose's deadly claws glowed red. Mari realised the only target in its range was her and called out to her Charizard. Charmy roared and folded her wings to dive back to the yacht but she wouldn't make it in time. Zangoose towered over Mari with a vicious glint in its eye. Time seemed to pass half as fast. Suddenly Zangoose doubled over as if it had been punched in the side. In a flash an image appeared; a Treecko with his fist in Zangoose's side. He disappeared as just quickly. Zangoose tumbled to the floor and Treecko reappeared over by the railing, where Ray was climbing onto the deck.
"Ray? Why are you here?" Mari said, picking herself up off the floor. Charmy landed on the deck beside her with a thud, snarling at Zangoose. "Please tell me you came out here alone."
"Of course he didn't!" Daichi piped up, climbing onto the railing with Max grinning sheepishly.
"I take it we weren't really invited," the blond said.
Purrloin hissed and leaped out onto all fours. However, Jamie pulled him back and petted him. "Whoa, wouldn't want you in a sitch you couldn't handle. Dustox can…" He released Dustox.
Ray shot Mari a pointed look. "Are you going to let me help you this time?"
Mari cast him a sidelong glance and hesitated. It seemed that she was about to refuse.
"Zangoose! Get back into it! Use Slash!"
"Sleep Powder," Jamie drawled.
Charmy didn't wait for orders to blow the powder away with her wings but Zangoose was about to strike on her left. Ray directed Treecko to hit it again with Quick Attack. Zangoose couldn't dodge Treecko's lightning fast movement but couldn't counterattack either. Treecko was back where he began in the blink of an eye.
Mari sighed in resignation. "Okay. Guess you got my back, then."
"I'll pitch in too," Max offered, taking out Mudkip's Pokéball.
"Just because they don't play fair doesn't mean we have to," Ray deadpanned.
The waves rolled a little bit rougher and the boat rocked dangerously. Daichi and Max were both thrown into the railing and everyone else simply lost balance and fell. The boat was tossed precariously close to the rocky reefs. Everyone's stomachs sank when the grating sound of metal being torn accompanied the yacht shuddering.
"Eek!" they all heard Layla shriek. "That was the rudder!"
Nicky was radioing for help but paused to cringe at the sight of his cousin turning the wheel uselessly. He dropped the handset he was holding and picked up an emergency rudder and toolkit stashed in the corner of the cabin. Telling Layla to keep on the helm, he dashed out onto the deck but then froze. Just in time as well because a Zangoose zipped past with Charmy's fire following closely after it. Treecko tackled Dustox to the floor with his newfound speediness. Nicky gulped when he realised that this was going to be an obvious barrier.
The boat lurched. Treecko leaped off Dustox before it was swept down the deck and almost toppled overboard. Zangoose slid to the rail and used the lift from the next wave to add power to its leap, slashing Charmy mercilessly with its huge claws. Charmy retaliated by sinking her fangs into its shoulder. Mari saw the opportunity and commanded her Charizard to use Seismic Toss. The force of that attack caused the back of the boat to dip so much that it almost capsized.
"Finish it with Flamethrower!" Mari shouted.
Charmy's mouth filled with flames but before she could execute that attack she was blasted in the back by a huge array of bubbles. Everyone on deck turned to the apparent source of the bubbles in surprise. A Poliwhirl and a Corphish stood on the side of the deck while their trainers climbed over the rail using the grappling hooks they'd thrown.
"No way! It's them again!" Max groaned.
"Who are they?" Mari asked.
"More shady guys from Team Aqua," Daichi growled, fixing Jake and Josie with a furious glare.
"Aw, thought you'd be happy to see us," Jake said sarcastically, smirking all the while. "Didn't quite finish what we started last time thanks to the cops but we'll get you this time."
"Why'd you have to butt in!?" Jemima asked bitterly. "Everything's under control!"
"Oh really?" Josie snapped back. "Yeah, so under control that your Pokémon was about to get the biggest smack down it's ever had. Corphish, use Bubble again!"
Her Corphish obliged easily. The wanning flame on Charmy's tail flared back to life and she snorted soot from her nostrils. She turned to face off with the Corphish but Mari shouted out:
"Charmy, fly up!"
Her Charizard obeyed but gave her a confused look. That expression fell into one of amusement when the Zangoose sneaking up behind her was bombarded with bubbles.
"Hey! Four against two isn't fair!" Daichi yelled across the deck, throwing a Pokéball into the battle. "Lotad, do your Nature Power attack!"
Lotad's leaf shimmered and sparkled. From that energy three glowing balls of energy – red, blue and yellow – appeared, spinning like a halo before launching at Corphish. This attack seemed to zap, burn and freeze Corphish all at once and hurled it into its trainer. Poliwhirl jumped in and blew Lotad away with Water Gun. Max called out Mudkip and the little water-type tackled Poliwhirl.
Treecko zipped around the battlefield, hitting all four opponents without doing much damage. It did, however, serve to get their attention when Ray commanded him to use Leer. His eyes glowed and exuded an aura that made all that looked into them feel a chill down the spine.
"Like that would…" Jamie muttered disinterestedly. "Poison Sting." His Dustox spat out one of its poisonous darts. It struck Treecko in the side and he doubled over in pain. "Pin it… String Shot."
Treecko jumped to get out of the way but fell short due to the stabbing pain in his side and a numbing sensation spreading all over his body from it. A liberal web of sticky silk poured over him. Under Mari's detailed instruction, Charmy used Flamethrower, hitting close enough to Treecko to burn away some of the string. The torrent of fire travelled across the deck, singeing the boards as it chased down Jamie's Dustox until it hit. The charred Pokémon crashed to the floor, unable to take any more heat.
"Zangoose!" Jemima called out. "Use Revenge! Don't let them get away with that!"
Zangoose's body went red hot, so hot that its fur began to steam. Before it could release the attack it felt something small latch onto its side and looked down. Big, yellow eyes looked up and Treecko smirked.
"Absorb!" Ray ordered.
Treecko's eyes went wide and glowed green. He gripped tighter and his body began to sparkle as little orbs of energy were drained from Zangoose. Its body began to cool down and it was starting to feel weak. It quickly reached down to pry the offending starter Pokémon off it but it's arms felt heavy and it was too tired to pull him off. It collapsed onto its knees and fell face first onto the deck. Jemima grabbed her head in her hands and shrieked at the top of her lungs.
"No way! How could Zangoose get taken down by a little Bellsprout like that?!"
"A Bellsprout?" Ray echoed, turning to Mari questioningly. Mari rolled her eyes at Jemima's dramatics.
"Like saying your Pokémon is super weak," she explained, "like a Bellsprout."
Ray still didn't quite get it but he brushed it off for now. Treecko stood up feeling a little bit more energised and yanked the barb out of his side. He still felt numb all over and there was suddenly a painful cramp in his chest. Ray rushed over to pick up his Pokémon as Jamie and Jemima returned theirs.
"Oh no, what's wrong with him?"
"Probably poisoned," Mari replied. "Use a Pecha Berry. Still have some from the trainer garden, don't you?"
During that, Max and Daichi were facing off against Josie and Jake, blocking them from interfering with Mari and Ray's fight. Poliwhirl lunged to attack but Lotad lunged faster and smacked right into its belly with Astonish. Corphish got past, stretching its claws wide to use Vice Grip. Mudkip squeaked and curled up.
"Ack! Don't do that!" Max cried out. "Just stay calm. Use Bide!"
Mudkip's body glowed red all over just as Corphish attacked. He squealed when Corphish clamped down hard but tried to stay firm with encouragement from his trainer. Corphish squeezed extra hard for good measure and then slammed Mudkip to the ground mercilessly. Once he was back on the ground Mudkip managed to find his feet and turned around, unleashing a powered up strike against his opponent that took it by surprise. Corphish was tossed back and crashed into Poliwhirl while it was in the middle of smacking Lotad with Double Slap.
"Here's your chance! Use Absorb!" Daichi ordered.
Lotad clamped his mouth over the hand Poliwhirl was using to slap and his eyes glowed green, taking in a huge chunk of its energy. Poliwhirl tried to shake him off in a hurry but the damage had been done. Max and Daichi high-fived each other over their teamwork effort and commanded both of their Pokémon to use Water Gun. Lotad and Mudkip blasted water at their opponents, sending them careening into Jake and Josie, which pushed them up against the railing.
"Great job, guys," Mari praised. "I can finish it if you like."
"Hold it!" Jamie snapped, taking out another Pokéball. "Still one… Spinda."
Before he could throw his Pokéball the boat shuddered and groaned as something scraped savagely against the bottom. The mere sound of it was sickening.
"Oh no…" Nicky gulped. He turned back to the cabin and rushed to Layla's side. She'd kept on the helm, using it as a balance aid more than anything else.
"The reef!" she told him with a panicked waver. "Waves are tossing us too close to the rocks. At this rate, we'll crash!"
A/N: Dundundun! Cliffhanger. Thankfully, I can actually assure you this time that it won't take a month for me to update. January has been a terrible month for me.
Also, I'm letting you know now that at some point I'll be changing the title of this story. I'm still not decided on what I'll be changing it to but I will be because I don't like the title it has right now. This is mostly just a heads up to any anon readers who may be following but everyone can take note of it. Also, we're still doing 'Write by Committee' (kind of, sort of, not really, a little bit) here so if you throw some idea at me it might end up sticking. Throw some OC at me too. I still have two vacant positions for random, strong, non-silly trainers (by 'non-silly' I mean not a joke idea you threw at me for funsies. Although if you did throw a joke idea at me and I liked it, I'd find a way to turn it into a non-joke). Otherwise, I'll end up having to invent my own OCs on the spot and it'll be Exaggeration City 5eva!
Also, please review... because I like that too. I will literally force myself to update regularly if I have confirmation that at least one person is reading.